A Canadian Heroine eBook

“A gentleman, ma’am, who says he has come
a long way to see master, and would you speak to him
for a moment?”

Mrs. Wynter took up the card, and her daughter read
it over her shoulder.

“Leigh Beresford?” she said. “I
do not know the name at all. You said Mr. Wynter
was from home?”

“Yes, ma’am. The gentleman seemed
very much put out, and then said could he see you?”

“I suppose he must;” and Mrs. Wynter began,
rather reluctantly, to put aside her embroidery, and
draw up her lace shawl around her shoulders.

“But what a pretty name! Mamma, who can
he be?”

“And, mamma, if he is nice bring him in and
let us all see him.”

“No, don’t; we don’t want any strangers.
What do people come after dinner for?”

Mrs. Wynter paid no attention to her daughters, but
having made up her mind to it, walked composedly out
of the room, and into the one where Maurice waited.
She came in, a fair motherly woman, in satin and lace,
with a certain soft comfortableness about her
aspect which seemed an odd contrast to his impatience.
He took pains to speak without hurry or excitement,
but did not, perhaps, altogether succeed.

“I must beg you to pardon me this intrusion,”
he said. “I hoped to have found Mr. Wynter
at home, and I wished to ask him a question which I
have no doubt you can answer equally well if you will
be so good.”

“It is only about an address. I have just
arrived in England from Canada; I am an old friend
and neighbour of Mrs. Costello, and have something
of importance to communicate to her, will you tell
me where she is?”

Poor Maurice! he had been getting his little speech
ready beforehand, and had made up his mind to speak
quite coolly, but somehow the last few words seemed
very much in earnest, and struck Mrs. Wynter as being
so. She looked more closely at her guest.

“Mrs. Costello is in France. Did I understand
that you had known her in Canada?”

“I have known her all my life. I spent
the last summer and autumn in England, and did not
return to Canada until after she had left, but she
knew that I should have occasion to see her, or write
to her as soon as I could reach home again, and I
am anxious to do so now.”

“You are aware that Mrs. Costello wishes to
live very quietly? Her health is much broken.”

“You will excuse my hesitation if you do know
all; but, certainly, I have no authority to refuse
their address.”

She got up and opened a desk which stood on a table
in the room. She had considered the matter while
they were talking, and come to the conclusion that
the address ought to be given, while at the same time
she wished to know more of the person to whom she gave
it.